International Relations

Degree Option

Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in international relations.

Description of Program

The international relations major is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the needs of students interested in understanding and/or working in international affairs. The goal is to train students for responsible global citizenship and entry into internationally related jobs in business, government or international public or private agencies. The curriculum is designed to provide greater breadth than is possible by concentration in a single discipline, yet permit sufficiently focused study in international affairs to prepare the student for direct entry into the field of international service or continued post graduate study.

Requirements for Major

Completion of requirements in five interdependent areas.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must take two years of coursework or credits in a single language or demonstrate equivalent competence. Options for fulfilling this requirement include family background or life experience, high school training, college coursework by transfer from another institution, study abroad and coursework through Drake’s World Languages and Cultures programStudents must take two years of coursework or credits in a single language or demonstrate equivalent competence. Options for fulfilling this requirement include family background or life experience, high school training, college coursework by transfer from another institution, study abroad and coursework through Drake’s World Languages and Cultures program.

The Basic Core

18 credit hours. All international relations majors must complete the following basic requirements:

Specialized Tracks

Minimum of 21 credits. Elective courses within the major are spread across two specialized tracks: Comparative Perspectives and Thematic Perspectives. Majors are required to take a minimum of 9 credit hours under Comparative Perspectives. Of these, 6 hours must be taken in a single regional area and at least 3 hours must be taken under the Cross-Regional category. Majors are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework under Thematic Perspectives. Relevant courses taken through study abroad programs may count toward the Thematic Perspectives requirements. Also, relevant Drake courses offered on an occasional basis may be considered. In all cases, the choice of courses must be made with the approval of the student's academic adviser. The remaining 3 credit hours of the 21 total credit hours may be taken from either Comparative Perspectives OR Thematic Perspectives, at the student’s discretion. Credit hours from study abroad may be counted toward these requirements with the approval of a student’s academic adviser.

Thematic Perspectives

International Relations Seminar

Majors are required to complete Politics 192: International Relations Seminar. This course is offered each spring and must be taken during the senior year. Politics 192 counts as a Senior Capstone under the Drake Curriculum.

Students also are encouraged, though not required, to study abroad during either their sophomore or junior year. Students should consider study-abroad options in consultation with their academic adviser and the study-abroad coordinator.